November 14, 2015 began a new Project Feeder Watch year. This is my 20th season of watching and recording which birds are attracted to what I offer in my yard. The season runs from mid-November through the first Friday in April.

Project Feeder Watch is one of Cornell University’s citizen science projects. Basically, a volunteer counts birds coming to their yard for two consecutive days, recording total species of birds and the maximum number of each species seen at one time.

Steve Tracy

Most birds counted are those that come to feeders, but also counted are those birds coming to water features, fruit producing plants and any bird in the count area deemed to have been attracted by other bird activity.

Do not count fly over birds with the exception that Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks, that may strafe the yard looking for a fresh meal. All data is entered online and you can compare your sightings to other feederwatchers in North Carolina and other states.

The day began with a predawn Barred Owl calling from within the feeder area.

I ended with a total of 31 species which I consider good, especially considering this is the first weekend and there is usually plenty of natural food available. Traditionally, this has been one of my slowest weekends and some years I have had species numbering only in the teens.

The total list is as follows:

Great Blue Heron: 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1

Cooper’s Hawk: 1

Mourning Dove: 7

Barred Owl: 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1

Downy Woodpecker: 2

Blue Jay: 1

Carolina Chickadee: 5

Tufted Titmouse: 2

White-breasted Nuthatch: 1

Brown-headed Nuthatch: 1

Carolina Wren: 2

Eastern Bluebird: 1

Hermit Thrush: 1 (one of my favorite winter time visitors)

American Robin: 32

Brown Thrasher: 1

Northern Mockingbird: 1

Cedar Waxwing: 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1

Dark-eyed Junco: 1

White-throated Sparrow: 4

Song Sparrow: 1

Northern Cardinal: 13

Red-winged Blackbird: 1

Rusty Blackbird: 3

Common Grackle: 10

Baltimore Oriole: 1

House Finch: 6

American Goldfinch: 4

If you have any questions about how I attract individual species, send me an email and I will tell you all I can. If you have other birds you would like to share with me, drop me a line.

December 19, 2015 will be the Gaston Christmas Bird Count. If you would like to participate and learn firsthand about area birds, let me know and I will match you up with other birders knowledgeable about our area.

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About This Blog

November 14, 2015 began a new Project Feeder Watch year. This is my 20th season of watching and recording which birds are attracted to what I offer in my yard. The season runs from mid-November through the first Friday in April.

Project Feeder Watch is one of Cornell University’s citizen science projects. Basically, a volunteer counts birds coming to their yard for two consecutive days, recording total species of birds and the maximum number of each species seen at one time.

Steve Tracy

Most birds counted are those that come to feeders, but also counted are those birds coming to water features, fruit producing plants and any bird in the count area deemed to have been attracted by other bird activity.

Do not count fly over birds with the exception that Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks, that may strafe the yard looking for a fresh meal. All data is entered online and you can compare your sightings to other feederwatchers in North Carolina and other states.

The day began with a predawn Barred Owl calling from within the feeder area.

I ended with a total of 31 species which I consider good, especially considering this is the first weekend and there is usually plenty of natural food available. Traditionally, this has been one of my slowest weekends and some years I have had species numbering only in the teens.

The total list is as follows:

Great Blue Heron: 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1

Cooper’s Hawk: 1

Mourning Dove: 7

Barred Owl: 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1

Downy Woodpecker: 2

Blue Jay: 1

Carolina Chickadee: 5

Tufted Titmouse: 2

White-breasted Nuthatch: 1

Brown-headed Nuthatch: 1

Carolina Wren: 2

Eastern Bluebird: 1

Hermit Thrush: 1 (one of my favorite winter time visitors)

American Robin: 32

Brown Thrasher: 1

Northern Mockingbird: 1

Cedar Waxwing: 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1

Dark-eyed Junco: 1

White-throated Sparrow: 4

Song Sparrow: 1

Northern Cardinal: 13

Red-winged Blackbird: 1

Rusty Blackbird: 3

Common Grackle: 10

Baltimore Oriole: 1

House Finch: 6

American Goldfinch: 4

If you have any questions about how I attract individual species, send me an email and I will tell you all I can. If you have other birds you would like to share with me, drop me a line.

December 19, 2015 will be the Gaston Christmas Bird Count. If you would like to participate and learn firsthand about area birds, let me know and I will match you up with other birders knowledgeable about our area.